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Emphasising that
war was not an option for the two countries, Pakistan's Punjab province Chief
Minister Shahbaz Sharif tonight called for cooperation between India and
Pakistan to combat terrorism and stamp it out from the region.

"Pakistan
itself is a victim of militancy and terrorism. We strongly condemn all shades
of militancy,'' he said after a series of meetings during the course of the
day.

Shahbaz was quite
evasive when asked about the anti-India activities of JuD chief and Mumbai
attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed. The institutions run by the JuD had been taken
over by the Punjab province government which was also responsible for running
them now, he merely stated. Shahbaz, the younger brother of Pakistan Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif, arrived here this morning as a guest of his Punjab
counterpart Parkash Singh Badal to witness the World Kabaddi final in Ludhiana
on Saturday.

Accompanied by a
high-level delegation, Shahbaz called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to
deliver a message from the Pakistan Premier, renewing Islamabad's invitation to
the Indian leader to visit Pakistan at an early date.

On whether the PM
had accepted the invite, the Pakistani leader said: "He appreciated the
sentiments expressed by the Pakistan PM …let's hope he visits Pakistan.'' He
said Singh had raised the issue of recent 'disturbances along the LoC' during
the meeting. Shahbaz said he had told the Indian leader that Pakistan favoured
a peaceful and early resolution of issues like Siachen, Sir Creek, water and
Kashmir through talks between the two nations.

Shahbaz, who is
considered No 2 in the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML), was hopeful that
the DGMOs of India and Pakistan would meet as early as possible to ensure peace
and tranquility along the LoC. "War is not an option but brushing our
problems under the carpet is also not an option…like intelligent and prudent
nations, we should resolve issues between us,'' he said.

Shahbaz, who also
had a meeting with Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, said he had
proposed that the commerce secretaries of the two countries should meet at an
early date in New Delhi or Islamabad to discuss a Non-Discriminatory Trade
Agreement (NDTA) to enhance trade an economic links. He said Pakistan's
proposal to purchase power from India was still on the table.

War is not an
option but brushing our problems under the carpet is also not an option…like
intelligent and prudent nations, we should resolve issues between us.

—Shahbaz Sharif. pak punjab cm

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131213/nation.htm#5

HC to decide on arming AFT with contempt
powers

Tribune News
Service

Chandigarh,
December 12

The Punjab and
Haryana High Court will decide on whether the Armed Forces Tribunal can have
powers of contempt. Taking cognisance of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL)
seeking grant of powers to the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) to enforce the
implementation and execution of orders passed by it, the HC today issued
notices to the Central Government and the Tribunal.

Citing several
examples, the PIL avers that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) refuses to implement
decisions of the AFT even when upheld by the Supreme Court. Pointing out that
though there is a Section in the AFT Act ordaining execution of its orders, the
procedure is not laid down and neither does the AFT have powers of civil
contempt.

The PIL, filed by
lawyer Navdeep Singh, has sought directions to the Law Ministry to either
notify or amplify the procedure of execution of AFT orders or that the AFT be
directed to initiate criminal contempt proceedings in each case of
non-compliance.

There are more
than 3,000 cases of the AFT that have not been complied with by the government
on the pretext that the decisions are “against government policy.”

Important cases
where orders of the AFT upheld by the SC that have not been implemented include
Brig AK Bhutani Vs UOI relating to counter-insurgency allowances to army
officers posted to Border Roads Organisation, Col Sanjeev Sehgal Vs UOI
relating to implementation of dynamic assured career progression scheme in the
Army Medical Corps and Brig TS Sekhon Vs UOI concerning medical reimbursement
in a medical emergency while travelling abroad.

'Give more teeth'

The PIL, filed by lawyer Navdeep Singh, has
sought directions to the Law Ministry to either notify or amplify the procedure
of execution of AFT orders or that the AFT be directed to initiate criminal contempt
proceedings in each case of non-compliance

It says the Defence Ministry refuses to
implement decisions of the AFT even when upheld by the Supreme Court

There are more than 3,000 cases of the AFT
that have not been complied with by the government on the pretext that the
decisions are "against government policy”.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131213/nation.htm#8

As MiG-21 flies for one last time, pilots walk
down memory lane

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News
Service

Chandigarh,
December 12

While the MiG-21
fighter had acquired a dubious image during the later stage of its illustrious
service in the Indian Air Force (IAF), pilots who had flown the aircraft have
fond memories associated with the nimble jet, which many say was a wonderful
machine to fly.

As the MiG-21
"FL" version, the earliest to be inducted in the IAF in April 1963,
finally flew into the sunset this week, marking the end of an era, Air Marshal
PS Brar, former Vice-Chief of the Air Staff, recalled that when the MiG-21 was
inducted, it was the top of the line fighter and the IAF had exploited it to
the hilt, modifying it to carry out missions for which it was not originally
designed for. "Elsewhere, people could not believe what we were able to
achieve with this aircraft," he said.

For half a
century, the venerable MiG-21 has ruled the skies over the Indian subcontinent,
having evolved over the years from a simplistic fighter to a modern combat
aircraft, often competing with the best war birds of the present era. The IAF
will continue to operate this aircraft for a few more years and the Bison
variant, the most advanced version evolved by modifying and upgrading the
earlier versions about a decade ago, still equips several squadrons.

"With this
aircraft, we could not have asked for more," Air Marshal Brar said.
"It was only towards the end of its lifespan that the number of accidents
involving it shot up, as the younger lot flying it lacked experience," he
said.

Being limited in
number, the MiG-21 had a minor role in the 1965 Indo-Pak war, but was a crucial
war-fighting element in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, giving IAF the air superiority
over vital threats. In the first-ever supersonic air combat over the
sub-continent, an IAF Mig-21 FL claimed a Pakistani F-104 Starfighter. By the
end of the hostilities, the MiGs had claimed four Pakistani F-104s, two F-6s,
one F-86 Sabre and a Lockheed C-130 Hercules.

"It was a
wonderful aircraft to fly and had a very quick turnaround time," said Air
Marshal RS Bedi, former Director General, Perspective Planning. "We were
able to maintain 98 per cent serviceability during the war," he said.

The FL versions
were manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited till 1973 and equipped 10
operational squadrons, the MiG Operational Flying Training Unit and the
Operational Conversion Unit. The IAF has inducted around 1,000 variants of
MiG-21 and at the height of their service equipped 20 squadrons. They even
participated in the 1999 Kargil conflict and the same year shot down a Pakistan
Atlantic recce aircraft over the Rann of Kutch.

Over the years,
newer versions with improved performance and ordnance-carrying capability began
coming in. Besides the "U" two-seater conversion trainer, the IAF
inducted the "M" and the "MF" versions, which had more
powerful engines and additional under wing hard points for carrying missiles
and rocket pods, besides having some structural and airframe modifications and
better avionics. From simply being an interceptor, the role of the MiG-21
changed into a multi-role fighter, capable of undertaking interdiction
missions.

Then, in the late
1980s, came in "Bis" version, which in Russian means
"final", incorporating further improvements in avionics. The Bis
ultimately evolved into the Bison, incorporating several structural
modifications and an entirely new cockpit and avionics suite, comparable with
modern aircraft were introduced, giving it beyond visual range combat
capability.

Several MiG-21s
have also been extensively modified for electronic warfare and reconnaissance
roles.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131213/nation.htm#9

Tejas to replace MiG-21 FL

Shillong, December
12

The indigenously
developed light combat aircraft 'Tejas' would officially replace the MiG-21 FL
fighter jet, Chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal NAK
Browne said today.

"One major
phase has passed and now we look towards the new induction into the force. The
LCA will replace the MiG-21," Browne told reporters at the headquarter of
Eastern Air Command here.

"We will get
40 aircraft and that will be the Mark-I type. Tejas will be battle ready by end
of 2014," he said.

Defence Minister
AK Antony would officially hand over initiation of acceptance of the Tejas into
the force at its birthplace in Bengaluru on December 20, the IAF Chief said.

Browne,
accompanied by his wife Kiran, was here on a two-day farewell visit and also
attended a Commanders' Conference of the Eastern Air Command.

According to
Browne, works are on for developing Mark-II type 'Tejas' with improvement in
radar system and other add-ons and it will be inducted into the force at a
later stage.

Asked on air
defence scenario in the northeast region, Browne said, "The North-East is
important to us. We have plans for induction of radars for the hilly terrain.
We have a series of systems that ensure that the air defence is
impregnable."

He said one
squadron of Sukhoi would be based in Tezpur by next year, adding that the latest
squadron was being formed at Sirsa in Punjab.

On the MiG-21 FL
which was phased out after 50-years of service, at a function at Kalaikunda Air
base in West Bengal yesterday, Browne said, "It's been a memorable moment
for the Air Force and also a watershed moment as the aircraft which trained all
fighter pilots, including myself and generations of pilots. It has done its
job. It has done well," he said. — PTI

Eastern Army
Commander Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag was today appointed Vice-Chief of the
Indian Army, setting him in line to take over as the next chief of the 1.4
million-strong force when General Bikram Singh retires on July 31 next year.

From the 4/5
Gorkha Rifles regiment, Lt Gen Suhag replaces Lt Gen SK Singh, who
superannuates on December 31. The General has seen action in “Op Pawan” in Sri
Lanka. He commanded 53 Infantry Brigade in counter-insurgency operations in the
Kashmir Valley. As a Major general, he commanded Khumbhathang (Kargil-based) 8
Mountain Division.

He was posted as
Eastern Army Commander in June 2012. Prior to that, he was the GOC 3 Corps at
Dimapur, Nagaland. He has also served in Special Frontier Force, a super-secret
unit functioning under the Cabinet Secretary.

Before Lt Gen
Suhag was to be appointed as Eastern Army Commander, Gen VK Singh, the then
Chief of the Indian Army, imposed a discipline and vigilance ban on him. That
was after the PM-headed Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) had cleared the
appointment. The ban was overturned when General Bikram Singh took over on June
1 last.

Two new Army Commanders
have also been appointed. Lt Gen MMS Rai, who has commanded the Jodhpur-based
12 Corps, replaces Lt Gen Suhag as the new Eastern Army Commander in Kolkata.
Lt Gen Rai is from the Corps of Engineers.

Lt Gen Arun Kumar
Sahni has been appointed as the South-Western Army Commander at Jaipur,
replacing Lt Gen Gyan Bhushan who is superannuating on December 31. Lt Gen
Sahni is from the Regiment of Artillery. He was awarded ‘Sword of Honour’when
he was commissioned into the Army in 1970s for being the best all round
Gentleman Cadet and the ‘President’s Gold Medal’ for standing first in his
course.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131213/edit.htm#5

Talks alone can
solve Kashmir problem

Pakistan may,
however, wait till a new govt takes charge

T.V. Rajeswar

In an address in
Occupied Kashmir Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reportedly said that the
J&K issue could trigger a fourth war with India. The remark drew a prompt
retort from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that there is no scope of Pakistan
winning any such war in his life time.

Almost immediately
after the report, Nawaz Sharif's office clarified that the media report was
incorrect. It added that any issue of conflict between Pakistan and India has
to be resolved through peaceful means. Nawaz Shairf's office also said that he
considered Kashmir as his prime responsibility and hoped that it would be
resolved in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people and the UN
resolutions. Sartaj Aziz, National Security Adviser, who was recently in India,
added Indian forces in Siachen posed a serious threat to Pakistan’s environment
and urged India to pull out its troops. India had dealt with this Siachen issue
even earlier and said that this could be considered after the existing troop
positions of both India and Pakistan are recorded.

The Pakistan Army,
which is the ultimate authority in Pakistan on political issues such as Jammu
& Kashmir, had published its “mother document” which says that the growing
Indian military power “disturbed (the) strategic equilibrium of the region” and
that in the face of growing disparity, Pakistan may have to use nuclear weapons
as a last resort.

Nawaz Sharif’s
obsessive approach to the Kashmir issue is known. He had earlier appointed Gen.
Pervez Musharraf as the Army Chief of Pakistan overlooking several of his
seniors. He had great faith in his capacity to deliver Jammu & Kashmir
sooner or later. Sharif was fully in the loop when General Musharraf carried
out the Kargil attack which misfired and forced Pakistanis to withdraw from
Kargil. It was done at the instance of President Clinton after Sharif had
rushed to him for relief after the Kargil debacle.

The revelation of
Pakistan’s special envoy to the US that President Obama had sent a secret
message to President Asif Ali Zardari in 2009 that he would nudge India towards
negotiations on Kashmir in lieu of it ending support to terrorist groups like
Lashkar-e-Taiba had no impact on Pakistan. Obama told Asif Ali Zardari that
fighting India through proxy groups was not sustainable any more.

Addressing a gathering
in Delhi on December 7, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that
countries such as Pakistan that practised embedded terrorism had to clean up
their act and there was no choice in the matter.

Pakistan's
obsession with Kashmir is not going to stop in the near future and it is the
view of strategic observers that Pakistan would continue to infiltrate Kashmir
with jihadi militants trained in POK and that after the snow melts in the upper
reaches of Kashmir, infiltration of militants would increase.

Having said that,
the Kashmir issue has to be resolved sooner or later to the satisfaction of
India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir. There had been several attempts in
the past to resolve this thorny issue. The Simla talks of 1972 failed to produce
a lasting solution. Although India claimed that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto agreed to
treat the Line of Control as the permanent international border between India
and Pakistan and that he would get the political groups and the people of
Pakistan agree to the new solution in due course, Bhutto repudiated India's
claim and denied any such understanding.

Musharraf came out
with a solution of his own. In an interview with Indian an TV channel he said
Pakistan would give up the claim to J&K if India accepted a four-point
formula: (1) Kashmir should have the same borders but people should be allowed
to move freely across the region; (2) The region should have self-governance or
autonomy but not independence; (3) Troops should be withdrawn from the region
in a phased manner; and (4) a joint mechanism comprising representatives from
India, Pakistan and Kashmir to be set up to supervise the implementation of
such a roadmap for Kashmir. The formula was rejected by Dr. Manmohan Singh with
the observation that that the borders of J&K cannot be redrawn.

From J&K
itself there were conflicting reactions. Syed Ali Shah Geelani repudiated the
formula and said that it showed that Musharraf had lost self-confidence and was
in a state of mental depression. Sajjad Lone, chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir
People’s Party, said that it was a welcome step and the Kashmir leadership
should be fully involved. The Pakistan-based United Jihad Council, which is a
coalition of terrorist groups, lashed out at Musharraf and said that Kashmiris would
not compromise on their right to self-determination. On the other hand, Omar
Abdullah stated that Musharraf's proposal deserved a serious consideration and
that he was in favour of an out-of-the box solution to the Kashmir issue.

In Pakistan, Imran
Khan of Tehreek-e-Insaf stated recently that back-channel discussions between
the interlocutors of India and Pakistan had almost reached an amicable formula
for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute when unfortunately the Mumbai attack
of 2008 took place.

It is known that
India's interlocutor Satish Lamba has been visiting Pakistan during the past
three years. He has interacted with Nawaz Sharif even during his first term as
Prime Minister. Lamba's counterpart, Sartaj Aziz, was in Delhi in November this
year and had met Foreign Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid. Khurshid reportedly
expressed Delhi's disappointment with the manner in which Pakistan was
conducting itself on various crucial issues. Khurshid told Aziz that peace and
tranquility on the Line of Control was one of the most important
confidence-building measures which had been regrettably ignored by the Pakistan
Government and its armed forces. The 136 ceasefire violations in 2013 alone
were the highest in the past eight years. It was pointed out to Sartaj Aziz
that the understanding reached in New York after the two brief meetings Dr.
Manmohan Singh had with his counterpart on October 5 and 11 had not yielded any
results. Sartaj Aziz had a brief meeting with Dr. Manmohan Singh on November 13
but no discussions took place between them, since Salman Khurshid had already
conveyed to him whatever was to be said to Pakistan.

It is obvious that
the Kashmir problem has to be resolved only through negotiations between the
two Prime Ministers or through interlocutors. With the recent election results
from the four states going against the UPA, it is likely that Pakistan may not
make an effective push towards a solution of the Kashmir issue and that it may
well wait till the next parliamentary elections are over and a new government
is in power.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131213/edit.htm#7

A National
Security Doctrine is Imperative

The concluding
part of the analysis on civil-military relations argues that India’s national
security concerns demand that all interests and all institutions of national
power are brought to work most closely together to further the country’s
interest and build a militarily and economically strong nation that enjoys the
world’s trust and respect

N.N. Vohra

Over the years,
continuing efforts have been made by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to promote
jointness through integration of the planning, training and other systems so
that, progressively, a tri-service approach could get fully established.
However, certain issues continue to affect the efficient functioning of the
defence apparatus:

There must be no
further delay in finalising the National Security Doctrine, on the basis of
which integrated threat assessments can be made.

While some
improvements have been achieved in the past years, the MoD must enforce strict
measures to ensure that the DRDO, ordnance factories, defence public sector
undertakings and other concerned agencies function efficiently to deliver
supplies and services as per the envisaged time and cost schedules. Prolonged
delays cause serious difficulties for the armed forces and large economic
losses as the lack of certainty about supplies from indigenous sources compels
expensive imports.

While there have
been notable advances in the rationalisation of the procurement policies and
procedures, there is still need to ensure against prolonged acquisition
proceedings as such delays altogether nullify the “make or buy” approaches.

The individual
services enjoy the autonomy of taking decisions to make their own selections of
weapons, equipment and systems. The Integrated Service Headquarters must take
effective steps to establish a tri-service approach in regard to such decisions
as doing so will engender very significant financial savings.

Defence planning
process has still to get established. The X and XI Plans were implemented
without receiving formal approvals. While the Long Term Integrated Perspective
Plan has since been finalised, it is still viewed as a totalling up of the wish
lists of the individual services. The Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) must
devote urgent attention towards finalising a fully integrated defence plan with
at least a 10-15 year perspective.

The services enjoy
the authority of virtually settling their own manpower policies. The pro-rata
percentage representation of arms and services in the Army needs to be modified
as it is virtually a “quota system” which breeds group loyalties and cuts at
the very roots of jointness within the service.

While the
functioning of the defence apparatus has been getting steadily refined, the
continuing lack of consensus among the three services is thwarting the
achievement of the vital objective of “jointness”. A number of joint service
institutions have come into existence in the post Kargil War period. Among the
new institutions, frequent references are made to the IDS, Defence Intelligence
Agency (DIA), Andaman & Nicobar Command and the Strategic Forces Command.
While it may be far too early to rejoice over these inter-agency institutions,
it is disconcerting to learn that the individual services are not doing all
that is required to see that these get fully established without facing delays
and difficulties. A former Army Chief is quoted to say that the IDS is “a
redundancy in military bureaucracy”; the founder Director of DIA is quoted to
bring out that “the DIA cannot deliver as the intelligence agencies of the
three services feel threatened by it” and about the IDS it is stated that “the
services will never allow this body to function as they feel threatened that it
will start examining the basis of their budgetary proposals, acquisition plans
and force structures”.

Consequences of
economic meltdown

The time has come
for the individual services to close their ranks and get collectively concerned
about the major threats and formidable challenges which we face in our close
neighbourhood and beyond. The global security environment is continuing to
become growingly complex and huge uncertainties loom large on various fronts.

Our military has
to be also concerned about the consequences of the economic meltdown and the
strong likelihood of the allocations for defence facing a significant decline.
In this scenario, to prepare for successfully meeting future challenges, it is
of the highest importance that the individual services shed all reservations
and establish meaningful jointness. A truly tri-service approach will reduce
functional overlaps, wasteful duplications and redundancies. The IDS have
already promulgated a joint doctrine for the armed forces, which is presently
undergoing revision because of the differing views of the service headquarters
on several issues. Any delay in this regard would come in the way of the armed
forces preparing themselves fully for delivering an effective response when any
emergency arises in the future.

The defence
ministry must realise the need to keep a very close watch on the rising cost of
maintaining the military apparatus and ensuring that the high cost of the
longer term acquisitions can be met from within the future availability of
resources. Urgent attention needs being paid to reducing dependency on imports.
This would require a very vigorous revving up of the ongoing indigenisation
programmes. In the years past, only the Navy initiated systematic steps to
foster indigenisation of their major platforms and systems and deserve all
praise for the wonderful outcomes which they have already been able to achieve.

It also needs
being noted that India is not the only country which is engaged in dealing with
problems relating to the functioning of the defence management apparatus. Many
democracies have been facing such problems and, benefitting from their own past
experiences, several countries have established strong parliamentary oversight
bodies to monitor all important issues relating to their armed forces. Some
countries have even inducted external experts to monitor their ongoing defence
reform processes.

Evolving a model
for jointness

India cannot and
must not be left behind in doing all that needs to be done for strengthening
and enhancing our national security interests. We need to develop our own model
of defence management which vigorously promotes and sustains military
professionalism while being fully in tune with our constitutional framework and
in harmony with our glorious traditions and soldiering. The model to be evolved
should also not be excessively encumbered with varied hierarchical fixations
which are rooted in our colonial past.

Considering the
threats and challenges which loom on our horizon it is extremely important that
our higher defence management structures are founded in the need to maintain a
sensitive balance between the civil and military components and, side by side,
ensuring that the entire military apparatus functions strictly within the
parameters of “jointness”.

It would be an
ideal situation if the service chiefs were to collaborate closely and for the
Chiefs of Staff Committee to itself take the various required decisions to pave
the way for the future and establish jointness, brick upon brick. In the past
over two decades many useful opportunities were lost because of the lack of
convergence in the views of the service headquarters.

If jointness and a
tri-service approach cannot be achieved soon enough then, perhaps, the only
option left may be to proceed towards replacing the existing single service
Acts by an Armed Forces Act which would lay a statutory basis for achieving
jointness and delineating the roles, duties and missions of the armed forces,
as also the procedures and modalities relating to the functioning of the
defence apparatus. In this context, it may not be out of place to recall that
the US achieved its objectives by promulgating the Goldwater Nichols Act in
1986, after nearly four decades of experimentation under the aegis of its
National Security Act. More recently, because of the serious budgetary problems
faced by the country, UK has been devoting a high level of attention to reforms
in its defence management apparatus. In this context, the Levene Report has
sought to clarify the respective roles and responsibilities of ministers,
civilian officers and the military at the policy, strategic and operational
levels.

A dedicated
security cadre

In so far as the
tenure of civilians working in the MoD are concerned, a dedicated security
administration cadre should be established by drawing in the best available
talent from the civil services, defence services, DRDO, science and technology,
information and communication technology, broadcasting and media, et al. This
dedicated cadre should enjoy open ended tenures and those found fit should be
enabled to develop specialisation in dealing with security related matters and
be deployed in the MoD, Ministry of Home Affairs, Research and Analysis Wing,
Intelligence Bureau, National Security Council secretariat and other security
management related areas for their entire careers. This recommendation is
contained in the Report of the Task Force on Internal Security (2000). It was
accepted by the Group of Ministers (GoM) and after hearing it, the GoM had gone
further and added that as “the assignments in these ministries/agencies are
perceived as exacting and unattractive, the members of such a pool should,
therefore, be appropriately compensated by provision of non-monetary
incentives”. It is time to resurrect and speedily implement this decision of
the GoM.

Another factor
noted by the GoM was related to the marked difference in the perception of
roles between the civil and military officers. A task force was set up to work
out the curricula for organising a continuing Joint Civil and Military Training
Programme on National Security, which would be undergone by Brigadier and Major
General and equivalent rank officers, IAS, IPS, IFS, central police forces and,
as the training settled down, participants would also be drawn from the media,
industry and other arenas. On the basis of this task force’s recommendations
the first two-week programme commenced at the IAS Training Academy at
Mussoorie, in February 2003. This programme has been successfully continuing
for over a decade now and the 20th course commenced at Mussoorie in November
2013. It would be beneficial if the MoD reviews this programme and suitably recast
its contents to meet the existing and emerging scenarios.

Reviewing
promotion system

Controversial
interviews relating to personal issues, the Raksha Mantri’s decision being
challenged in the Apex Court and several other unseemly scandals have marred
the army’s image and dragged the services into the cesspool of partisan and
parochial politics. This has caused divisiveness and serious damage to the very
fabric of our military. It is indeed most unfortunate that any questioning of
the deviations from the well established norms is viewed as questioning the
very loyalty of the entire army. Such incidents, which have a great adverse
affect on the morale of the armed forces, must not be allowed to recur under
any circumstances. Time has perhaps come to review the entire existing basis of
promotions and appointments to the higher echelons in the three services.

The patriotism and
professionalism of the men and women of our armed forces is second to none
among the militaries the world over. Our national security concerns demand that
all interests and all institutions of national power are brought to work most
closely together to further the country’s interest and build a militarily and
economically strong India which enjoys the trust and respect of all our neighbours.
In conclusion, the country must come first, always and ever, and never forget
“who lives if India dies.”

Refining Jointness

Continuing lack of
consensus among the three services is thwarting the achievement of the vital
objective of jointness

The military also
has to be concerned about the consequences of the economic meltdown and the
strong likelihood of the allocations for defence facing a significant decline

Higher defence
management needs to maintain a sensitive balance between the civil and military
components and ensure that the entire military apparatus functions strictly
within the parameters of jointness

A dedicated
security administration cadre should be established by drawing in the best
available talent from the civil services, defence services, DRDO, science and
technology, information and communication technology

His career
highlights include command of a Self Propelled Regiment in the desert sector, a
Mountain Artillery Brigade employed in Counter Insurgency Operations in North
East, an Independent Infantry Brigade in J & K and the Army’s oldest
Infantry Division as part of Strike Corps, on the Western Borders.

He commanded the
largest corps of the IA in the North East, responsible for security along a
large part of the northern borders with China, Myanmar to the East and Counter Terrorist
Operations in four of the NE States.

He was the Brigade
Major of an Infantry Brigade in Sri Lanka during Op PAWAN and Colonel General
Staff of a Counter Insurgency Force in Jammu & Kashmir. As Additional
Director General Military Operations in the Army Headquarters, he was
responsible for Force Structuring and Op Preparedness of the IA.

Presently, the
General Officer is Director General Information Technology at Army
Headquarters.

He has the
distinction of doing the Gunnery Staff Course at Royal School of Artillery,
Larkhill (UK) and later served for three years as the Assistant Military
Attaché at Embassy of India, Moscow (Russia).

He has been an
Instructor at Indian Military Academy, School of Artillery and Defence Services
Staff College. For his distinguished service, he has been awarded the Vishisht
Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Chief of Army Staff Commendation Cards on two
occasions.

Myanmar's Vice
Senior General Soe Win, who is his country's army chief and deputy
commander-in-chief of defence services met President Pranab Mukherjee at
Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday.

Welcoming General
Win, Mukherjee said: "India-Myanmar bilateral relations have seen
accelerated growth and expansion over the last two years. India stands ready to
build on this, particularly at a time when Myanmar is engaged in far-reaching
political and economic reforms. India has in the last two years sought to
extend and broaden defence cooperation with Myanmar."

The President
recalled that during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Myanmar in May
2012, both countries had emphasized the need for enhanced cooperation between
security forces and border guarding agencies for securing peace, security and
stability in the border areas, which is was crucial for overall development.

He expressed
appreciation for the fact that in 2012, Myanmar had received all three service
chiefs of India.

He also conveyed
that India was happy to host the Commander in Chief of the Myanmar Defence
Services, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and his delegation in August, 2012.

He pointed out
that the Indian armed forces have assisted the Myanmar Army in training and
capacity building under Government of India's ITEC programme.

Mukherjee
expressed confidence that General Win's visit would further strengthen the
relations between the two countries.

General Win said
that the Myanmar Government was aware of the importance of peace and
cooperation on the border and it stands ready to increase its cooperation with
India.

He reiterated the
assurance made jointly by the Prime Minister and Myanmar President in May 2012
that territories of either country would not be allowed to be used for
activities inimical to the other, including for training, sanctuary and other
operations by terrorist and insurgent organisations and their operatives.